don't bark up the wrong tree [ghosty]

It’s hard to think of a life without them. A life not waking up to their faces in mine, occasionally the odd wet kiss now and then. Despite now having a room painted with their hair, it’s all looking up with having them as company. They’ve become my placebo for when Wynn is not around, even if I probably get more conversation out of the dogs than Wynn, the four of them; my main little crew in life. Thankfully, my parents accepted the dogs…with time. Obviously my dad was a bit grudged that I didn’t come home with a cedar chest but what is good about a chest? Can you love a chest as much as you love a dog? And will the chest love you back?

Training them has been the tricky part; it seems they all have their own different personalities. Ser Steak the older one, he is as hyper as me. Egg the fatter one, he is as lazy as my brother and Gift the bitch; she’s just as loyal as Wynn. But I love them all as equally, even if Steaky drives me insane most of the time. They’ve only had the odd accident around the house and I think that I have cracked the house training side. Although on one occasion, I had to run outside with Egg in my hands…while he was still peeing.

Today I am taking them for their afternoon walk as work is now finished. I’ve crafted leads for them but I don’t take one for Gift, she is my shadow and never leaves my side. There must be some magnet inside her, which is attracted to my leg. I don’t complain. However I need one for Steak and Egg otherwise Steak would run off and Egg wouldn’t move. Gathering the little pack together, I’d clip them all to their leads before heading outside.

At last, the warm sticky season of Summer is waving goodbye to us all and it welcomes the cool crisp months of Autumn. No longer will I feel dead while out working under the burning sun. Biting at my skin, the autumn breeze would attack my body but I’d surrender to it. Despite coating my arms in goose bumps, it feels so relaxing. The air is free of the humid velocity which once swam around in my lunges, I can now breathe. I am looking forwards to the months to come, I am excited for the dead of winter; the most magical part of the year.

Trotting down the street, with the trio by my feet, I’d plan out the route that we would take. Just half an hour, they’re only babies; they don’t need to walk a marathon. Once they get older, I will have them with me running in the morning, I want them to be as fit as I am and well; I can’t be bothered going out walking and running three times a day.

Tugging at his lead, I’d tank Steak back as he’d tried to fight free from my grip. ”Stop Steak!” I’d demand as the little puppy would blatantly ignore my command. Ahead I could see some dogs approaching us and it seems Steak had spotted them earlier. Maybe I could just let them sniff, they do need to be socialised. Carrying on walking forwards, Steak would become a lot stronger on the lead as a bark would erupt from his mouth. ”Steak, stop!”Ignoring me once again, the dog would pull one great tug of the lead which caught me off guard. Losing my grip of the lead, the little puppy would jolt forwards, sprinting to the canines ahead.

Quickly dragging Egg along with me, I’d chase after the dog, Gift keeping up to my shadow. For fuck sake. Ahead I could see Steak collide with the other dogs, a spike of nerves would hit me as all the worse possibilities would swarm inside of me. ”Oh I am so sorry.” I’d say to the owners of the other dogs as I’d pick up Steak’s lead, quickly scolding him for his mistake. ”He’s not usually this strong, has he done anything to your dogs?”

691 Words